Cyanea superba is a palm-like tree sometimes reaching 20 feet in height that is crowned by a tight rosette of leaves. It bears numerous white and cream-colored flowers on pendant inflorescences that hang up to a foot below its leaves. This species is most severely threatened by habitat degradation caused by introduced animals and competition with more aggressive exotic plants. (Wagner et al. 1999)

In 1996, Cyanea superba was known from 2 small populations on Federal and State land, consisting of a total of 10 plants. By 1998, all 5 plants on State land had died and only the 5 plants on Federal land remained. In just 3 years, 4 out of the 5 remaining wild individuals have died and now only a single remaining wild plant of Cyanea superba is left. In 2000, this remaining plant flowered and fruited for the first time and seed was collected for in vitro propagation.

Rat predation especially of the developing fruit seriously threatens this species. The flowering season of Cyanea superba varies from year to year depending on precipitation. It ranges from late August to early October (USFWS 1998).

Kartesz, J.T. 1999. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the U.S., Canada, and Greenland. In: Kartesz, J.T.; Meacham, C.A., editors. Synthesis of the North American Flora, Version 1.0. North Carolina Botanical Garden. Chapel Hill, NC.